Artist Rex Ray: Native Son

Here’s another hand-to-the-forehead discovery about a native of Colorado Springs who went on to become an amazing artist: Rex Ray (neé Michael Patterson) was born in 1956 and grew up in Colorado Springs. Like so many before and since, he left in his teens and moved straight to San Francisco, spent his 20s and 30s doing graphic design for record labels, for which he became quite famous (Bowie, The Rolling Stones, etc.). Then one day he realized he decided he wanted to do whatever he wanted to do and began to make design-y collages from magazines. And so began his second career doing giant painting/collage/designs that charm the eye even as they persistently defy a defined medium.

Here are a couple of videos about Ray, the second of which is from a documentary titled “How to Make a Rex Ray,” which you can purchase HERE.

Got a book on his years ago and was surprised to see he went to UCCS. Lots of talent that CS does not shout about for some reason- Rex Ray, Louis Cicotello, Senga Nengudi, Margaret Kilgallen, Gus Lee, Frank Waters, Floyd Tunson, Dave Mason, even Tesla. Lots to shout about! Would be wonderful to be known as the town these extremely creative
folks live/have lived in instead of the home of political/religious fanatic types.

December 9, 2016 | NPR · Two-thirds of Americans think Trump must avoid a conflict of interest, according to a Bloomberg poll. But only a slight majority are confident he’ll put the country’s interests ahead of his own.

December 9, 2016 | NPR · Mongolian goats produce the world’s highest quality cashmere wool, and international demand has soared. There’s a problem, though: these goats are turning the country into an ecological wasteland.

December 9, 2016 | NPR · A makeshift artist studio and living space in Baltimore was shut down Monday, a few days after a deadly California warehouse fire. The tenants are now left wondering where to go from here.

December 9, 2016 | NCPR · Residents of Seneca Falls, N.Y., are celebrating 70 years of Frank Capra’s classic Christmas film. The town claims architectural and geographic similarities, and a scouting trip by the director.